[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52495-52497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-1937]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC04-556-000; FERC Form 556]


Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

August 20, 2004.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 52496]]

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by October 18, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/hard-fil-elec.asp or click on ``Documents and Filing'', 
``Hardcopy filing'' and then ``Electric''. Applicants for self-
certification have to create their own form.) Written comments may be 
submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael 
Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. Comments may be filed either in paper format or 
electronically. Those parties filing electronically do not need to make 
a paper filing. For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of such 
comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426 and refer to Docket No. IC04-556-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in 
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To 
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov and click on ``Make an E-filing,'' and then follow the 
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a 
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic 
acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of 
comments.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the 
Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user 
assistance, contact [email protected] or toll-free at (866) 
208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No.556 ``Cogeneration and Small Power 
Production'' (OMB No. 1902-0075) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of Section 3 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 
(16 U.S.C. 792-828c), and Sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). The reporting requirements 
associated with FERC Form 556 require owners or operators of small 
power production or cogeneration facilities, who seek qualifying status 
for their facilities, to file the information requested in Form 556 for 
Commission certification as a qualifying facility (QF).
    A primary objective of PURPA is the conservation of energy through 
efficient use of energy resources in the generation of electric power. 
One means of achieving this objective is to encourage electric power 
production by cogeneration facilities which make use of reject heat 
associated with commercial or industrial processes, and by small power 
production facilities which use waste and renewable resources as fuel. 
PURPA, through the establishment of various regulatory benefits, 
encourages the development of small power production facilities and 
cogeneration facilities which meet certain technical and corporate 
criteria. Facilities that meet these criteria are called QF's.
    Owners and operators of small power production and cogeneration 
facilities desiring QF certification for their facilities must file the 
information prescribed in FERC Form 556 with the Commission. In 
addition to identifying the required filing information, FERC Form 556 
also outlines the QF certification procedure, and specifies the 
criteria which must be met for QF certification. The Commission's QF 
regulations are published at 18 CFR Part 292. Respondents who comply 
with the FERC Form 556 criteria and are granted QF certification by the 
Commission are exempt from certain sections of the FPA and the Public 
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 as listed in 18 CFR 292.601 and 
292.602.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

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  Number of respondents annually\*\    Number of responses per    Average burden hours     Total annual burden
                 (1)                       respondent  (2)         per response  (3)        hours  (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC Form 556-FERC Certification 27..                        1                        4                      108
Self Certification 270...............                        1                       38                   10,260
                                      --------------------------
    Totals 297.......................                        1                       42                   10,368
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* The Commission has found that 90% of the applications for certification are submitted using the self
  certification process as opposed to completing the FERC Form 556 ( having the Commission review and prepare
  the certification process).

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $534,276 (10,368 hours 
divided by 2,080 hours per employee per year times $107,185 per year 
average salary (including overhead) per employee (rounded off)).
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance

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of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-1937 Filed 8-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P